Thatscricket - News - Defaulting Gibbs to undergo counselling

Johannesburg: South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs caught smoking marijuana in the West Indies within a year of a suspended sentence for partying must undergo life skills counselling and a mentorship programme, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) ruled on Thursday."The committee carefully considered ... submissions and the personal circumstances of Gibbs, as well as the effect of his conduct on the sport as a whole," Disciplinary Committee convenor Brandon Foot said in a statement. "The Disciplinary Committee has decided that the interests of cricket are best served by the UCBSA requiring Gibbs to undertake a programme, to be approved by the UCBSA, of mentorship and counselling in life skills necessary for a professional sportsman and role model."Gibbs, who was fined 10,000 Rand ($ 1,200) along with five teammates for smoking marijuana in a hotel room in Antigua on April 10, had been four days short of serving out a 12-month suspended sentence of a 10,000 Rand fine and a three-match ban.Gibbs, who was also suspended from cricket for six months for his part in the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal, had been punished for partying into the early hours of the morning before playing against Australia in a One-day International in Cape Town on April 14 last year.While the UCBSA disciplinary committee did not invoke the suspended penalties, it decided to conditionally extend the suspension to May 31 next year.The two conditions are that Gibbs successfully completes the mentoring programme and that he is not found guilty of any contravention of the UCBSA's code of conduct relating to "unbecoming or detrimental conduct, which could bring them (players), the Board or the game of cricket into disrepute" during the extended period of suspension.Gibbs said afterwards he was happy with the ruling. "I believe this is a fair outcome and a constructive way of dealing with the matter. I'm relieved it is over so I can move forward and concentrate on my cricket."